European Startup and Scaleup Hubs pilot (HORIZON-EIE-2027-02-CONNECT-01) call for proposals

About

The European Commission and EISMEA have opened a Horizon Europe call under reference HORIZON-EIE-2027-02-CONNECT-01 for consortia to pilot cross-border networks of 10 to 18 startup and scaleup hubs that improve deep tech scaling across Europe.

Benefits

• 💶EU co-funding
  Selected projects can receive EU co-funding covering up to 50% of eligible costs, subject to selection and call rules.
• 💰Available budget
  The 2027 call has an available budget of €40 million.
• 🌐Hub-network access
  Selected pilot networks are expected to interconnect around 10 to 18 leading and emerging startup and scaleup hubs, giving startups access to research infrastructures, investors, mentors, talent and collaboration opportunities.
• ⏳Two-year project
  The indicative project duration is two years.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: the consortium must be a network of 10 to 18 startup and scaleup hubs across at least 10 different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
• Mandatory: each hub must be represented by a single legal entity or several legal entities representing the relevant innovation-ecosystem actors supporting startups.
• Mandatory: at least 2 participating hubs must be established in a widening country.
• Mandatory: Member States or Associated Countries with a population not exceeding 35 million may have only one hub in a given consortium, while those exceeding 35 million may have up to two hubs.
• Mandatory: proposals must comply with restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
• Preferred/assessed: substantial experience with startup creation, scaleup success, venture-capital mobilisation and entrepreneurial education.
• Preferred/assessed: each hub should include at least one local research and higher education institution or research and technology organisation recognised for deep tech research excellence.
• Preferred/assessed: strong deep tech capabilities relevant to European strategic sectors.
• Preferred/assessed: demonstrated ability to federate local innovation-ecosystem actors and develop international interconnectivity.
• Preferred/assessed: access to research and technology infrastructures, facilities, mentoring, incubators/accelerators, professional services and investment opportunities, with commitment to opening them to startups from other hubs on equal conditions.
• Preferred/assessed: strong commitment and strategy to link ESSH activities with other Horizon Europe parts and support women-led startups and scaleups.

Participation Commitments

• Applications must be submitted in a single-stage process via the EU Funding & Tenders portal.
• The application deadline is 5 January 2027 at 17:00 CET.
• Selected projects have an indicative duration of two years.
• Selected pilot ESSHs should organise one of their yearly meetings at the margins of the EIC summit and are invited to participate actively in the yearly EIC summit meeting.

Target Region

EU Member States or Associated Countries

Target Sector

Not Specified